Taking the CCP Exam Online or at a Test Centre: What Exam Day Actually Looks Like

Which should you choose?

You make the choice after AACE clears your application. If there's a Kryterion centre within easy reach, it removes most of the technical risk: someone else owns the computer, the connection and the room. Check Kryterion's test centre locator first.

Online proctoring makes sense if the nearest centre is hours away or the dates don't suit you. Before committing, run Kryterion's system check on the exact machine you'll use, and don't plan to use a work laptop. AACE's handbook warns that company firewalls and missing admin rights can block the software you need to install.

The rules that don't change

It's closed book, although AACE's CCP page notes that formula sheets are provided on screen. Phones, watches, wallets, hats and bulky clothing such as hoodies and heavy coats all stay out of reach. Keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+C and Ctrl+Alt+Del are disabled, and trying them can shut the exam down, so leave them alone.

Memorise your AACE ID before the day. You have to include it in your memo, and you can't bring a note of it in with you.

Proctors watch for things like glancing around the room, looking down at your lap or sleeves, or unusual amounts of note-taking. None of that is a problem if you simply work on the screen, but it's worth knowing so a nervous habit doesn't get you a warning.

Getting an online exam right

Once you've booked, links appear in your Webassessor profile to install Kryterion's Respondus secure browser and to set up your biometric profile. Do both well before exam day, not twenty minutes before. You can use your laptop's built-in camera, but only one monitor. The room must be private, nobody else can come in, and you shouldn't read questions aloud.

Proctors sometimes ask to see your eyes. That's routine, and usually just means your posture has shifted away from the camera.

What happens if an online exam is suspended

AACE's Online Proctored Exam Suspension Policy deals with two cases. If Kryterion detects malicious software, such as malware or a virtual machine, the first time it happens the exam is reset and rescheduled on a different computer. A second detection counts as a completed, failed attempt, and any further attempts must be taken at a test centre after paying the resit fee.

If the proctor suspends the exam for suspicious behaviour, such as unusual eye movement, an unauthorised device, a covered camera or someone else in the room, AACE reviews the recording and decides whether you can retake. A resit fee may apply.

On the day

Eat properly beforehand; AACE itself points out that its exams run up to 5 hours. Have your calculator, your confirmation email or biometric setup, and a rough plan for the memo. Many candidates hold back 40 to 60 minutes for it, and our memo guide explains why.

If the power goes or the computer freezes, tell the proctor immediately, or Kryterion if you're online. AACE's Disruption Policy says your answers, including the memo, are saved periodically so the session can be restored. If you're unhappy with how it was handled, you can raise it with AACE at certification@aacei.org.